Invention of Hugo Cabret

Bibliography

Selznick, Brian. 2007. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0439813785

Plot Summary

After his father dies in an accidental fire in 1931, 11 year-old Hugo, goes to live with his alcoholic uncle who lives in a Paris train station and maintains the clocks there. When his uncle disappears Hugo is left completely alone and he begins stealing food to survive and maintaining the clocks in the train station so that no one will notice his situation. When not maintaining the station clocks, Hugo is working to rebuild an automaton with the hopes that it will reveal a secret message from his father that will answer all of his questions and save his life. When caught stealing wind-up toys from a toymaker’s booth located in the train station, Hugo becomes intertwined with the lives of the toymaker and his goddaughter.

Critical Analysis

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a fast-paced adventure book loaded with action and mystery. It is very unique in that it seamlessly blends historical fiction, picture book, graphic novel, flip book, and movie elements. The story depends as much on the pictures as it does on the words.  While the words convey narration and conversation, the pictures convey action. The book opens with a cinematic series of illustrations that immediately draws the reader into Hugo’s world and maintains the reader’s curiosity and interest through the last page.

The illustrations are black and white pencil drawings that are amazingly detailed and textured. Photographic and cinematic in style, the illustrations are very lifelike and draw the reader into the action and emotion of the story.  Close-ups of characters allow the reader to see into them.  The design of the book successfully conveys the feel of silent film through the use of black-edged window-boxing throughout and the text pages recall title cards from silent film with their white filigree borders.

This book successfully explores the themes of survival, life-purpose, self-discovery, dream, and loss.  All of these themes are central to coming of age. The focus on the theme of loss may make this book more appropriate for ages thirteen and up. It is a book that should appeal to boys, but girls will also enjoy the mystery and suspense and find Isabella an easy character with whom to connect. At 525 pages it may frighten off some readers. However, once they see the number of pages taken by illustrations and read the first chapter, even a reluctant reader should be drawn into the story.

Review Excerpts

“With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking in this magical mystery set in 1930s Paris.” – School Library Journal, starred review

“The interplay between the illustrations … and text is complete genius, especially in the way Selznick moves from one to the other, depending on whether words or images are the better choice for the moment.” – Horn Book, starred review

"...this ambitious, intelligent piece of bookmaking demands and deserves attention..." — Booklist, boxed review

"... a uniquely inventive story.... elegantly designed to resemble the flickering experience of silent film melodramas." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Hugo Cabret sits at the nexus of magic and storytelling and film, and ... Brian Selznick shows us a little magic of his own." — The New York Times Book Review

Awards / Best Books

Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2008
National Book Award Finalist, 2007
#1 New York Times Bestseller
New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007
Kirkus Best Book of 2007
New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing
American Library Association Notable Children's Book, 2008
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, 2008
Quill Award Winner, 2007

Connections

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